Flyers Show Spark in Another Tough Loss

Flyers Show Spark in Another Tough Loss

The Goderich Flyers continued their trend of battling hard against elite opponents but fell just short in a 4-2 loss to the Mount Forest Patriots on Sunday afternoon. Christian DeJong had a rough start, allowing three goals in the opening frame, but bounced back with a solid performance, shutting out the Patriots for more than 40 minutes. Newly acquired Nate Bloemberg continued his strong play in his second game with the Flyers, contributing to both Goderich goals with a goal and an assist.

1st Period

Mount Forest came out firing in the first period, capitalizing on defensive breakdowns to take control of the game early. At 5:29, Reid Caswell opened the scoring, assisted by Austin Cook. Caswell struck again at 10:49 with a quick shot in front of the net, giving the Patriots a 2-0 lead. The Patriots extended their lead further at 14:15 when Luke Eurig, the league’s top scorer, finished off a crisp passing play with Jaxon Gawel and Caswell. Goderich struggled to find their rhythm but showed resilience heading into the second.

2nd Period

The Flyers found life in the middle frame, and it started with the newly minted starting line of Ayden Hakkers, Nate Bloemberg, and Kaeden MacDonald. At 8:43, Bloemberg buried a beautiful shot on a 2-on-1, taking a pass from Hakkers and sniping it top corner on the far side. The goal energized the Flyers, and they began to tilt the ice in their favor, outshooting the Patriots in the period and creating several dangerous chances. A late penalty by the Patriots gave Goderich a power play heading into the third period, setting the stage for an exciting final frame.

3rd Period

The Flyers made the most of their power-play opportunity early in the third. At 3:49, Hakkers scored his first goal of the season, tapping in a rebound off a Bloemberg shot with Jack Stecho picking up the secondary assist. The goal cut the deficit to 3-2 and gave the Flyers hope for a comeback. DeJong made several key saves to keep Goderich within striking distance, but the Flyers couldn’t solve Mount Forest’s defense. The Patriots sealed the win with an empty-net goal from Eurig at 19:32.

Scoring Summary

• 2nd Period: Nate Bloemberg (5) – Assists: Ayden Hakkers (1), Kaeden MacDonald (7)
• 3rd Period: Ayden Hakkers (1) – Assists: Nate Bloemberg (8), Jack Stecho (11) (PP)

Final Thoughts

Despite the loss, the Flyers showed their ability to compete against one of the best teams in the division. Bloemberg continues to make an immediate impact, tallying two points in this game and proving to be a dynamic addition to the roster. Hakkers also stood out, recording his first goal and assist of the season. DeJong’s bounce-back effort after the tough first period demonstrated his resilience and gave his team a chance to battle back.

The Flyers’ inability to play a full 60 minutes remains a challenge, as slow starts have forced them to chase games. However, their improved special teams and strong second-half efforts show they’re moving in the right direction.

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Upcoming Games:

• Sat, Nov 23: Goderich @ Mount Forest – 8:00 pm EST
• Sat, Nov 30: Hanover @ Goderich – 8:00 pm EST
• Sun, Dec 1: Walkerton @ Goderich – 2:30 pm EST
• Sat, Dec 7: Wingham @ Goderich – 8:00 pm EST
• Sun, Dec 8: Kincardine @ Goderich – 2:30 pm EST

 

Author: Colin Carmichael
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